Harris'
"
*^ In Walter Harris' posthumous work,
"The History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin, from the earliest accounts," we find an engraving of the north prospect of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Dublin, as it stood in 1766, with a suc- ceeding historical sketch of this building.
"
*^ In Walter Harris' posthumous work,
"The History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin, from the earliest accounts," we find an engraving of the north prospect of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Dublin, as it stood in 1766, with a suc- ceeding historical sketch of this building.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Patricii," lib.
iii.
, cap.
Ixxxix.
, p.
165, and n.
115, p.
188.
^3 This testimony of Jocelyn gives us to understand, how very general was the knowledge of the Latin language, in Ire- land, during his time, and previous periods ; while, it indicates, moreover, how great was the devotion entertained for the great Irish
Opuscula S. Patricii," '9 Ecclesiasticus, xliv. 15.
p. 150.
*°
^' It has been published by Colgan, and
See Ecclesiasiicus, xi. 30.
a " Praefatio Veteris Ano-
Apostle.
'^^ It seems to have been a
to it is
prefixed,
nymi," giving substantially the legend or history of its composition, as found in tlie
recognised practice, among the most celebrated Irish saints, to recite this Hymn, wliich was a favourite and privileged devotion. This is
"
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , pp.
te\t. See
Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia
mentioned, in the Life of St. Coemgen,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 679
The year for the death of Secundin is said to have been 447, and the day fellonthe27thofNoveniber. ^^ Heisthought,bysome,tohavepresided, over the See of Armagh ; but, this idea seems inconsistent, with the recorded Acts of St. Patrick, and with what we can infer, from other accounts. Nor dowefind,thattheSeeofArmaghhadanyexistence,atthisearlytime; so that Seachnall must have been dead, before its foundation had been accom- plished, by the Irish Apostle. However, as Secundin has been called
Patrick's Vicar
and
Suffragan,
while the Irish
Apostle went on
a visit to Rome f this might ac- count for a re- ceived
opinion, that the disciple had replaced his master, at Ar- magh, during the time of his pre- sumed absence from Ireland. Yet, probably, the
real
is to be found, in the circumstance,
• that before de-
parting for the more southern
districts of Ire- land, St. Patrick had entrusted Sechnall with a
very
jurisdiction, in the northern districts, and among others, over that tract, which afterwards
belonged to the
""^
See of Armagh. About this period,
1ikewise the ,
explanation
extensive
Old Church Ruins at Finglas, County of Dublui.
Irish Apostle is said to have visited the country about Slane_, to inspect the state of the congregations there formed, at the opening of his mission.
chapters xxiii. and xlviii. , in the Life of St. Cohnan Ela, chapter xxv. , and in tlie Life of St. Cannech, chapter xliii.
°5 Jocelyn adds, that tliose lying in wait
for the protected were struck with tliat kind
of blindness, " quam Acrisiam nuncupant Phisici. " See " Sexta Vita S. Patricii,"
lib. iii. , cap. Ixxxix. , xc, xci. , pp. 165, 166. 2* See Dr. O' Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 134, 135, and n.
-7 Rev. Dr. Lanigan asserts, that St. Patrick did not go to that city, after he had really engaged on tlie work of the L'ish
cap. clxxvii. , p. 104. These accounts ap- mission. '^^
pear, in a more detailed form, in the Tripar- Such is the very ingenious supposition
tite Life. See " Vita S. Septima
Patricii,"
of Rev. Dr. Lanigan, in his " Ecclesiastical
68o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
No wonder that the great actions of St. Patrick should be greatly magnified and even exaggerated, by the people, on whom he conferred such inestimable blessings ; and, yet, it is to be lamented, that pure inventions shouldusurptheplaceofauthenticbiography,inreferencetohim. Thus, Jocelyn, probably alluding to a legend, current in his time, especially relates,
—ck came in his that St. Patri
journey,
from Meath, so far as
Finglas,^?
—where
was a stream to a hill, which is distant a mile from Dublin. At Finglas,
there was an ancient church, and an old cemetery. There, too, the learned and
distinguished ecclesiastical historian of Ireland, Rev. John Lanigan, D. D. ,
lies interred, under a graceful Celtic cross. 3° Wlien St. Patrick was there,
Dublin is said to have been but a little village. Jocelyn remarks, that in
after times, it underwent various changes of fortune, having been mainly in-
habited by Norwegians, and by people from the Islands,3' sometimes in
alliancewith,andsometimesopposedto,thekingsofIreland. Wearetold,
that when the glorious bishop, St. Patrick, came near to the famous city of
Dublin, he found it lying in the slough of paganism and idolatry. While
contemplating it, from the hill alluded to, he blessed the territory around it.
Dr. Lanigan remarks, parenthetically, but without attaching any credit to this account, that St. Patrick must be supposed, in such hypothesis, to have stood on that high ground, not far from the present Royal Canal. s^ "We are told, he) prophetically broke forth into these words: " That village, which now is very small, shall hereafter become very eminent. It shall be enlarged in riches and dignity. Neither shall it cease to grow, until such time as it will become the principal seat of all the kingdom. " 33 The inhabitants of Dublin, hearing what great miracles and signs God had wrought, through his faithful servant, Patrick, went forth with great joy to meet him. The king of that place, it is said, had an only son, who lay sick, and who was even near to his death. Being entreated by his father, and by all the assembly, St. Patrick went to the place, where this sick son was, andfellupon his knees. Throughprayer,herestoredthechildtoperfecthealth. Thepeople,onseeing this miracle, believed in the Author of Life, our Saviour Jesus, and they were baptized in his name. At this time, it is said, Alphinus was the king over Dublin. He and all the citizens were in sorrow and anguish, for the death of twocherishedhopesofhisprincipality. Theking'sonlyson,calledEochadh,34 haddiedanaturaldeath,inhisbedroom. Theking'sdaughter,andasister to the young prince, had just been drowned, in the adjoining river, now known as the Liffey. Into its depths, she had ventured, for the purpose of bathing. Her name is stated to have been Dublinia, and from her Dublin is thought to have
deriveditsname. 35 Theyounglady'sbodywasdrawnoutofthewaters,after
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect. iv. , and nn. 36, 37, pp. 271, 272.
*9 A monastic institution, and an ancient Bishop's See, seem to have distinguished Finglas, in the early part of the eighth cen- tury.
figured in the foreground of the accompany. 275.
ing engraving, as shown by the artist. On 33 See " Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap. reverse panels, inscriptions in the Irish Ixix. , p. 90.
s^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- George Petrie, LL. D. It is accurately land," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, v. , n. 39, p.
3° It was designed by his friend, the late
language and character, and also in the Latin tongue, are to be found. The sketch here presented was taken on the spot, in 1872, and it was engraved, by George A. Hanlon.
3+ Such was the name, borne by this son,
according to the Antwerp copy of Jocelyn, bat Cochadh, according to the Parisian one.
See Colgan, n. 70, p. 112.
35 This etymology of Jocelyn, for Dublin,
is denied by Colgan, who states, that it
3' Colgan has a long note, on this passage
of Jocelyn, in which he thinks certain liis- torical contradictions are to be found. He refers the commercial importance of Dublin, to as early a period as that of Conn of the Hundred Battles, whose reign began A. u. 123.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 681
some considerable search, ^6 and laid by her brother's corpse, in order that their obsequiesmightbesolemnizedtogether. Accordingtothesuperstitionofthe
pagans, the tombs were prepared. In the meantime, news was spread over all the city, that St. Patrick, the potent reviver of many dead persons, had beenseeninthetown. For,he,whoburstasunderthegatesofdeathandof hell, smoothed the path for his servant. The king and the people, who
"
of thy ways," 37 were so cast down, saddened with weeping, and with
erewhile had said unto the Lord,
depart from us, we will not the knowledge
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
lamentation, that all memory of their wonted fierceness, all their barbarous rudeness, and all the pride of their idolatry, were utterly subdued. The king,
hearing of St. Patrick's arrival, greatly rejoiced, and caused him to come in, where his two children lay dead. He then promised, with all those present, if God restored his children to life, that he and the citizens would become Christians. Foreseeing such a gain of souls, in the sight of the king, his nobles, and all the commonalty, St. Patrick raised from death to life those princely children, whose corporal resurrection co-operated much towards the spiritual resurrection of their father, with the rest of his people. The king and all his subjects, being astonished at this great miracle, abjured the worship of idols, and they were baptized in St. Patrick's Well. At the time, this spring was close to the city. Near it, a church was afterwards built, and this became the resort of many pilgrims. ^^ The famed Saint Patrick's
''
comes from Dubh-linn, or the black
deeps. " Seen. 71, p. 112.
3* Jocelyn says, that some of the people
entered the river, to find the body, and with- out taking off their garments. Olhers with
incredible agility plunged into the deepest parts, while others searched near the sea,
lest the corpse might be carried out thither, by the tide. Olhers again, getting into a vessel, used a golden buckler, to help them in peer-
ing through the deep water ; where, at length, they found the royal maiden, lying among the sands, and seeming to be as if ia a sleep.
37 Job xxi. 14.
3^ Thus, Gregory, King of Scotland, is
said to have made a solemn pilgrimage to
this church, about the year 890. See Hector
Boethius' 220.
"
Scotorum Historia," lib. x. , fol.
682 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
Cathedral,39 at present forming one of the principal objects of architectural interest,'»° in Dublin, is said to have displaced the original structure/^ Jocelyn tells us, likewise, that St. Patrick built another mansion, near the church of the Holy Trinityj-^^ and in the city, ^Yest\vards from the Archbishop's
]->alace. 43 From that day forward, King Alphinus,''4 and all the citizens of Dublin, obliged themselves, as also their posterity, by a vow, to the service of Saint Patrick, and to that of the Primates of Armagh. Moreover, as a perpetual gage of their service, they ordained, that every company of tradesmen should pay a yearly annuity to its Primate. '*^ The king and the princes offered a talent of pure and refined gold to the saint, while the people gave what they could afford. Alloftheirliberalgifts,thetrueprofessorofpoverty,Patrick,bestowed upon the poor, reserving only a part, which he kept solely for the building of churches. '*^ Our glorious bishop, according to Jocelyn, gave his benediction to the people of Dublin. ^y He blessed them with the blessing of Jacob, the patriarch, and of IMoses, the servant of God, prophesying, and praying, if their deeds agreed with their words, that they might be unconquered and
fortunate,butweakandunhappy,ifevertheyfalsifiedtheirvows. ^^ Weare told, the saint washed Dublinia,49 or Dublin, with the pure waters of evangelical
39 A fine copper-plate engi-aving of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, with an en-
graved ground plan, drawn in 1790, by James Gandon, the celebrated architect, ap- pears in Grose's "Antiquities of Ireland,"
4* Neither Ath-Cliath, nor Dublin, nor King Alphin, are once mentioned in the Lives of St. Patrick —Jocelyn alone excepted —as Dr. Lanigan remarks, and he does not think the fables here recorded, to be worth the trouble of refutation.
^^ to merchant According Jocelyn, every
ship was required to furnish a good-sized cask of wine, or honey, a hook of iron, or a measure of salt ; from every tavern a vessel of mead or of ale, and from every shop a gift
of shoes, or gloves, or knives, or combs, with
referred to some of the foregoing legends.
with a history and description.
See vol. i. ,
I to
pp.
photograph of Frederick II. Mares, drawn
on the wood, by William F. \Yakeman, and
engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
"' A very complete account of it will be
in William Monck Mason's "
found, History
5.
'»° The accompanying engraving is from a
and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathe-
dral Church of St. Patrick," Dublin, 1819,
Roy. 4to, with interior and exterior illustra- See tions, taken before the late restorations.
"
Primordia," cap. xvii. et seq.
Harris'
"
*^ In Walter Harris' posthumous work,
"The History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin, from the earliest accounts," we find an engraving of the north prospect of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Dublin, as it stood in 1766, with a suc- ceeding historical sketch of this building. See Appendix, sect, i. , pp. 371 to 376. An engraving, by T. Ranson, presenting a south prospect, and from a drawing by George Petrie, with a much fuller account, will be
"
Historical Guide to Ancient and Modern Dublin," pp. 107 to 128. The late restorations have effaced many of those architectural features
presented .
43 It is certain, that in the time of Jocelyn,
chapel
Ware, vol. i. ,
p. 20. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan thinks those stories were fabricated at Armagh, and that Jocelyn may have been induced to insert them, in his Life of St. Patrick, as a compli- ment to his patron, the Archbishop Thomas, or that some other hand may have foisted them into his Manuscript.
^7 In the Book of Lecan, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, there is an Irish poem, on the Benediction bestowed on Dublin, by St. Patrick, fol. 191, a. b. , line 40. In another Manuscript, belonging to the same collection, there is another poem, on St. Patrick's Visit to Dublin. This Manuscript is classified 23. E. 26. See p. 233-
*" As Jocelyn remarks, this plainly was proved, when the Dublin people, becoming proud and regardless of the blessing of the saint, neglected to pay their appointed tribute to Armagh.
the earliest accounts to the present time ;
containing its Annals, Antiquities, Eccle- siastical History, and Charters ; its present
extent, public buildings, schools, institu- tions, &c. , to which are added, Biographical
found in Rev. G. N. Wright's
the Archbishop's palace stood due west of the ancient Christ's Church Cathedral, and on the site of the present Protestant Synod Hall. There St. Laurence O'Toole lived, and his domestic
« A " of the of Dublin, from History City
of St. Michael, the Archangel, was the original of the subse- quent St. Michael's parochial church, which, with its surrounding graveyard and large piles of human remains, we have seen, in
our time, completely removed.
of a similar kind.
many gifts
4^ Ussher, at A. D. 448, and Harris, have
Archbishops of Armagh,"
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 683
doctrine. This he effected, with greater faciHty, by reason of a memorable event, that happened, while he was there preaching the Gospel.
At this time, the River Liffey, while the tide rushed up its current, afforded nothing but salt ^Yater, to the few people, then living in Dublin. When the tide happened to be out, then only, it is intimated, the waterw as sweet and drinkable. But, in that village, an honest matron, in whose house the saint lodged, complained to him, regarding this want of fresh water. The blessed bishop, taking pity on her, as also on the whole multitude, so lately regenerated, and that he might excite their thirst after the fountains of life, deemed it expedient, to manifest the Divine virtue and power. Next day, in the presence of many, he went to a commodious place. There, striking the earth with the end of the Staff of Jesus, and praying, he produced a fine well, which sparkled clearly from its source, full of sweet and pleasant water. s° It also served, in curing many diseases. This spring, in after times,
was called St. Patrick's Well. 5^ —It has been thought probable, that an old
"
church of St. Patrick, in insul
to the time. This Dublin, on the River Poddle s^ reached back Apostle's
public
History of the City of
cii," cap. Ixix. , p. 90.
5' Tradition still points to a remarkable 26,
spring of water, now covered over by St.
Patrick's Cathedral, in Dublin, as being identical with this miraculous well. Primate Ussher determines its site, to have been in the North Close, not far from the steeple,
—cedes inclusum "interjprivatas nuperrime
"
obstmctum. " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
—a," so called from its insular situation, in
was a parochial church, which had existence, in the twelfth century. 53 Taking his leave of Dublin, St. Patrick went to a town, called Cnoc,54 where he sent for one named Murinus, a man of Belial. He would not, in anywise, present himself before the saint, whose persuasive eloquence and holy influence, he deemed able to conquer the hardest heart. This man caused answer to be made, that the saint should suffer him to sleep, in his place of retirement. Knowing by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that he " Let him sleep, let him sleep, andbeforethegeneraldayofjudgment,lethimnotawakenorarise. " After this, the saint hastened on his journey. The wicked wretch died, and it
proved a double death, both spiritually and corporally. ss
was a child of
perdition,
then said Patrick
:
Notices of Eminent Men, and copious Ap- pendices of its Population, Revenue, Com-
merce and Literature," has been publislied in London, A. D. 1818, in two large 4to volumes. If is illustrated, with numerous Plates, Plans and Maps. The most modern
"
private buildings, streets, and matters of general interest. In reference to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, or Christ Church, the enquirer should consult vol. i. , chap, iii. , pp. 98 to
132.
5° See Jocelyn's or " Sexta Vita S. Patri-
cloister of the Archdeacon ot Glendalough
and opposite to the north transcept. There was another St. Patrick's well, situated
south of Nassau-street, in Dublin ; and, be- hind a house. No. 15, in that street, formerly called St. Patrick's Well Lane, was a spring, dried up about the year 1729, and supposed to have been the original well. See Rev.
"
John Francis Shearman's Loca Patri-
ciana," No. vii. , p. 137.
5^ The course of this stream, near rising
Drimnagh, is now under cover along the
Coombe, and to its junction with the Liffey. 53 It may have been a monastic church, at an earlier period, as Abbots and Bishops of Dublin are mentioned, before the Danish settlement. See John D'Alton's "Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin," pp. 16 to
5* It was anciently said to have been called
Cnuca, where a battle was fought, during the
bardic period, A. M. 3579, by Conmael, son of Emir. In a. d. 220, it is said, Cumhal, the father of Fin Mac Cumhal, was slain here by GoUMacMorna. Hereisa
pagan
and researchful
Dublin," by J. T. Gilbert, in three 8vo volumes, appeared from 1854 to 1859 ; and, this history gives most minutely the account of various and
tumulus and an ancient castle. This place is known, at present, as Castleknock, near the Phoenix Park, Dublin. It is evident, that Jocelyn has confounded the story, related in the the well of St. Patrick. Another authority text, with one told about St. Patrick, at states, that it was in the outer court of the Naas. Or, perhaps, by Cnoc, which means
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 449. In a document of 1509, the house of the Preben- dary of Plowth is described as situated, near
et
684 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
PassingthroughMeath,aswearetold,St. PatrickcameintoLeinster. Inall
places,hepreachedtheGospel,andtheKingdomofHeaven; and,insuitable places, or when convenience urged, he ordained bishops. It would be utterly impossible, to set down the stupendous miracles, which, as tradition has it, he wrought in the course of those journeys. Like another St. Peter, theveryshadowofhisbodyproducedmiraculouscures. Manyhereceivedto
baptism, knowing that their adversary would labour to entangle them in his snares,andheendeavouredtoprocureforthemconfirmationinfaith. Fearing their relapse into infidelity, the Apostle was anxious to gratify their instant and pious wishes. Popular traditions, as well as documentary accounts, seem to indicate, that St. Patrick took a course, nearly due south from Tara towards Naas, which was then the court of the northern Leinster kings. This is evidently the truth, as appears from the whole tenor of his history. s^
A suggestion has been ofifered,^? that Donnaghmore,^^ on the borders of ! Meath and Dublin, may have had some connexion, with this his southern journey. Again, not far from Straffan,59 and about three miles west from Celbridge,^° in the county of Kildare, there is a very curious stone-roofed cell, but of dubious antiquity. This is now called St. Patrick's house. On the exterior, it is about 24 feet long, by 14 feet in width. The entrance door is on the south side, near the western gable ; and, on this same side appears a small, narrow, mullioned window. This little church is built, almost entirely with flag-stones ; and, it seems, nevertheless, to be very ancient. There are remains of a belfry, over the western gable ; and, on the east end, the traces of a window appear, but the wall beneath has crumbled away, and the altar probably was under the eastern gable. The size and style of building resembles very much that old cell, called St. Kevin's Kitchen, at Glenda- lough. Near the old building, at the foot of an elevated ridge, called Ard- rass,^^ and on the roadside, is shown St. Patrick's well. ^^ In a grassy depression of the ground, but near the summit of the elevated mound mentioned, the country-people point out St. Patrick's bed, encircled with bushes, where it is said the holy man slept, without any shelter, for one night. From this spot, a fine view of the surrounding country is obtained. In the open pasture field, beneath, may be seen the old stone-roofed cell. ^3
We find it stated, that previous to the arrival of St. Patrick in Leinster,
Christianity had made some progress there, owing to the labours of Palla- dius,'^'* Isserninus^5 and other missionaries. These are supposed to have
a peculiar shape of a hill, or mound, Jocelyn the parish of Killadoon, barony of North may have understood that Cnoc, near Naas, Salt, and county of Kildare. See ibid. ,
on which the kings of Leinster are tradi- lionally said to have built a royal residence. 55 See "Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
Ixix. , Ixx. , Ixxi. , Ixxii. , pp. 90, 91.
5^ See John O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-
Sheets lo, ii, 14.
^^
Pilgrims yet frequent it, and hang up many votive offerings of rags, on an old thorn-tree, overhanging the well.
*3 The stone roof was nearly perfect, when
visited by the writer, March, 1870; and, but for the Vandalism of persons, who
wantonly opened a hole through its centre, it might have long resisted the inroads of time. This was intended to afford egress for smoke, as the old church was used, for tlie purpose of kindling fires, in the interior ;
Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (h), p. 227. 57 By Rev. John Francis Shearman, in
" Loca Patriciana," No. vii. , pp. 137, 138. 5^ A parish, in the barony of Ratoath,
county of Meath.
59 This is a parish, and townland, in the
barony of North Salt, shown on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the but, at present, it is open on two sides, and,
County Kildare," Sheets 10, 14.
^ This is a town and townland, in the
parishes of Kildrought and Donaghcumper,
it affords shelter for cattle, so that its iii- terior is always left in a very filthy state,
'•* St. Prosper of Aquitaine records in his
" this man reached Chronicle," that holy
Ireland,in430,or431.
^^ He is said to have reached Leinster, in
m the baronies of North and Soutii
Salt,
countyofKildare. Seeibid. . Sheetli.
*»
This townland, Upper and Lower, is in
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 685
leavened the population, while it was still the privilege of our great Apostle, to
attack pagan superstition, in its high places. ^^ Again, it has been asserted, that St. Patrick's visitation to the more southern province did not take place, until he had previously held an interview with King Laoghaire Mac Neill, at theFeis,orConvention,ofTara. ^7 Totheyear438,^^hasbeenassignedthe saint's writing and purification of the Seanchus, or History, and of the Feine- chus, or Laws, of ancient Erinn f'i while, the writings and ancient books were collected and brought to one place, at the request of Patrick. The account runs, that three kings, Laoighaire,7° Core? ' and Daire ;72 three saints, Patrick,73 Benen74 and Cairnech ;75 with three antiquaries, Ross,7^ Dubhthach77 and Fearghus ;7^ or, a committee of these nine distinguished persons'9 undertook this work of recension and revision. ^° The Feis or Senate of Tara is said to have invested the persons, thus selected, with authority for thepurpose. ^^ Theirlaboursweredirected,torevisethepaganlawsofIreland, and to make them harmonize with Christianity. ^^ Having this object in view, they drew up a new Code, called the Seanchus-Mor,^3 or Great Antiquity.
438, with Auxilius and Secundinus, to assist
St. Patrick, in his Apostolic labours.
** See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
7^ Thought by some to have been Ros, the son of Trichem,
77 Supposed to have been Dubhtacli Mac " Loca Patriciana," No. vii. , p. ill. No. Ui Lugair, the chief man among the Irish
viii. , pp. 139, 140.
^^ In 1792, Lieutenant Daniel Grose
sketched the church and curious ruins, on
the Hill of Tara. Of these, he gives a N. W.
bards.
Opuscula S. Patricii," '9 Ecclesiasticus, xliv. 15.
p. 150.
*°
^' It has been published by Colgan, and
See Ecclesiasiicus, xi. 30.
a " Praefatio Veteris Ano-
Apostle.
'^^ It seems to have been a
to it is
prefixed,
nymi," giving substantially the legend or history of its composition, as found in tlie
recognised practice, among the most celebrated Irish saints, to recite this Hymn, wliich was a favourite and privileged devotion. This is
"
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , pp.
te\t. See
Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia
mentioned, in the Life of St. Coemgen,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 679
The year for the death of Secundin is said to have been 447, and the day fellonthe27thofNoveniber. ^^ Heisthought,bysome,tohavepresided, over the See of Armagh ; but, this idea seems inconsistent, with the recorded Acts of St. Patrick, and with what we can infer, from other accounts. Nor dowefind,thattheSeeofArmaghhadanyexistence,atthisearlytime; so that Seachnall must have been dead, before its foundation had been accom- plished, by the Irish Apostle. However, as Secundin has been called
Patrick's Vicar
and
Suffragan,
while the Irish
Apostle went on
a visit to Rome f this might ac- count for a re- ceived
opinion, that the disciple had replaced his master, at Ar- magh, during the time of his pre- sumed absence from Ireland. Yet, probably, the
real
is to be found, in the circumstance,
• that before de-
parting for the more southern
districts of Ire- land, St. Patrick had entrusted Sechnall with a
very
jurisdiction, in the northern districts, and among others, over that tract, which afterwards
belonged to the
""^
See of Armagh. About this period,
1ikewise the ,
explanation
extensive
Old Church Ruins at Finglas, County of Dublui.
Irish Apostle is said to have visited the country about Slane_, to inspect the state of the congregations there formed, at the opening of his mission.
chapters xxiii. and xlviii. , in the Life of St. Cohnan Ela, chapter xxv. , and in tlie Life of St. Cannech, chapter xliii.
°5 Jocelyn adds, that tliose lying in wait
for the protected were struck with tliat kind
of blindness, " quam Acrisiam nuncupant Phisici. " See " Sexta Vita S. Patricii,"
lib. iii. , cap. Ixxxix. , xc, xci. , pp. 165, 166. 2* See Dr. O' Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 134, 135, and n.
-7 Rev. Dr. Lanigan asserts, that St. Patrick did not go to that city, after he had really engaged on tlie work of the L'ish
cap. clxxvii. , p. 104. These accounts ap- mission. '^^
pear, in a more detailed form, in the Tripar- Such is the very ingenious supposition
tite Life. See " Vita S. Septima
Patricii,"
of Rev. Dr. Lanigan, in his " Ecclesiastical
68o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
No wonder that the great actions of St. Patrick should be greatly magnified and even exaggerated, by the people, on whom he conferred such inestimable blessings ; and, yet, it is to be lamented, that pure inventions shouldusurptheplaceofauthenticbiography,inreferencetohim. Thus, Jocelyn, probably alluding to a legend, current in his time, especially relates,
—ck came in his that St. Patri
journey,
from Meath, so far as
Finglas,^?
—where
was a stream to a hill, which is distant a mile from Dublin. At Finglas,
there was an ancient church, and an old cemetery. There, too, the learned and
distinguished ecclesiastical historian of Ireland, Rev. John Lanigan, D. D. ,
lies interred, under a graceful Celtic cross. 3° Wlien St. Patrick was there,
Dublin is said to have been but a little village. Jocelyn remarks, that in
after times, it underwent various changes of fortune, having been mainly in-
habited by Norwegians, and by people from the Islands,3' sometimes in
alliancewith,andsometimesopposedto,thekingsofIreland. Wearetold,
that when the glorious bishop, St. Patrick, came near to the famous city of
Dublin, he found it lying in the slough of paganism and idolatry. While
contemplating it, from the hill alluded to, he blessed the territory around it.
Dr. Lanigan remarks, parenthetically, but without attaching any credit to this account, that St. Patrick must be supposed, in such hypothesis, to have stood on that high ground, not far from the present Royal Canal. s^ "We are told, he) prophetically broke forth into these words: " That village, which now is very small, shall hereafter become very eminent. It shall be enlarged in riches and dignity. Neither shall it cease to grow, until such time as it will become the principal seat of all the kingdom. " 33 The inhabitants of Dublin, hearing what great miracles and signs God had wrought, through his faithful servant, Patrick, went forth with great joy to meet him. The king of that place, it is said, had an only son, who lay sick, and who was even near to his death. Being entreated by his father, and by all the assembly, St. Patrick went to the place, where this sick son was, andfellupon his knees. Throughprayer,herestoredthechildtoperfecthealth. Thepeople,onseeing this miracle, believed in the Author of Life, our Saviour Jesus, and they were baptized in his name. At this time, it is said, Alphinus was the king over Dublin. He and all the citizens were in sorrow and anguish, for the death of twocherishedhopesofhisprincipality. Theking'sonlyson,calledEochadh,34 haddiedanaturaldeath,inhisbedroom. Theking'sdaughter,andasister to the young prince, had just been drowned, in the adjoining river, now known as the Liffey. Into its depths, she had ventured, for the purpose of bathing. Her name is stated to have been Dublinia, and from her Dublin is thought to have
deriveditsname. 35 Theyounglady'sbodywasdrawnoutofthewaters,after
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect. iv. , and nn. 36, 37, pp. 271, 272.
*9 A monastic institution, and an ancient Bishop's See, seem to have distinguished Finglas, in the early part of the eighth cen- tury.
figured in the foreground of the accompany. 275.
ing engraving, as shown by the artist. On 33 See " Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap. reverse panels, inscriptions in the Irish Ixix. , p. 90.
s^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- George Petrie, LL. D. It is accurately land," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, v. , n. 39, p.
3° It was designed by his friend, the late
language and character, and also in the Latin tongue, are to be found. The sketch here presented was taken on the spot, in 1872, and it was engraved, by George A. Hanlon.
3+ Such was the name, borne by this son,
according to the Antwerp copy of Jocelyn, bat Cochadh, according to the Parisian one.
See Colgan, n. 70, p. 112.
35 This etymology of Jocelyn, for Dublin,
is denied by Colgan, who states, that it
3' Colgan has a long note, on this passage
of Jocelyn, in which he thinks certain liis- torical contradictions are to be found. He refers the commercial importance of Dublin, to as early a period as that of Conn of the Hundred Battles, whose reign began A. u. 123.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 681
some considerable search, ^6 and laid by her brother's corpse, in order that their obsequiesmightbesolemnizedtogether. Accordingtothesuperstitionofthe
pagans, the tombs were prepared. In the meantime, news was spread over all the city, that St. Patrick, the potent reviver of many dead persons, had beenseeninthetown. For,he,whoburstasunderthegatesofdeathandof hell, smoothed the path for his servant. The king and the people, who
"
of thy ways," 37 were so cast down, saddened with weeping, and with
erewhile had said unto the Lord,
depart from us, we will not the knowledge
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
lamentation, that all memory of their wonted fierceness, all their barbarous rudeness, and all the pride of their idolatry, were utterly subdued. The king,
hearing of St. Patrick's arrival, greatly rejoiced, and caused him to come in, where his two children lay dead. He then promised, with all those present, if God restored his children to life, that he and the citizens would become Christians. Foreseeing such a gain of souls, in the sight of the king, his nobles, and all the commonalty, St. Patrick raised from death to life those princely children, whose corporal resurrection co-operated much towards the spiritual resurrection of their father, with the rest of his people. The king and all his subjects, being astonished at this great miracle, abjured the worship of idols, and they were baptized in St. Patrick's Well. At the time, this spring was close to the city. Near it, a church was afterwards built, and this became the resort of many pilgrims. ^^ The famed Saint Patrick's
''
comes from Dubh-linn, or the black
deeps. " Seen. 71, p. 112.
3* Jocelyn says, that some of the people
entered the river, to find the body, and with- out taking off their garments. Olhers with
incredible agility plunged into the deepest parts, while others searched near the sea,
lest the corpse might be carried out thither, by the tide. Olhers again, getting into a vessel, used a golden buckler, to help them in peer-
ing through the deep water ; where, at length, they found the royal maiden, lying among the sands, and seeming to be as if ia a sleep.
37 Job xxi. 14.
3^ Thus, Gregory, King of Scotland, is
said to have made a solemn pilgrimage to
this church, about the year 890. See Hector
Boethius' 220.
"
Scotorum Historia," lib. x. , fol.
682 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
Cathedral,39 at present forming one of the principal objects of architectural interest,'»° in Dublin, is said to have displaced the original structure/^ Jocelyn tells us, likewise, that St. Patrick built another mansion, near the church of the Holy Trinityj-^^ and in the city, ^Yest\vards from the Archbishop's
]->alace. 43 From that day forward, King Alphinus,''4 and all the citizens of Dublin, obliged themselves, as also their posterity, by a vow, to the service of Saint Patrick, and to that of the Primates of Armagh. Moreover, as a perpetual gage of their service, they ordained, that every company of tradesmen should pay a yearly annuity to its Primate. '*^ The king and the princes offered a talent of pure and refined gold to the saint, while the people gave what they could afford. Alloftheirliberalgifts,thetrueprofessorofpoverty,Patrick,bestowed upon the poor, reserving only a part, which he kept solely for the building of churches. '*^ Our glorious bishop, according to Jocelyn, gave his benediction to the people of Dublin. ^y He blessed them with the blessing of Jacob, the patriarch, and of IMoses, the servant of God, prophesying, and praying, if their deeds agreed with their words, that they might be unconquered and
fortunate,butweakandunhappy,ifevertheyfalsifiedtheirvows. ^^ Weare told, the saint washed Dublinia,49 or Dublin, with the pure waters of evangelical
39 A fine copper-plate engi-aving of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, with an en-
graved ground plan, drawn in 1790, by James Gandon, the celebrated architect, ap- pears in Grose's "Antiquities of Ireland,"
4* Neither Ath-Cliath, nor Dublin, nor King Alphin, are once mentioned in the Lives of St. Patrick —Jocelyn alone excepted —as Dr. Lanigan remarks, and he does not think the fables here recorded, to be worth the trouble of refutation.
^^ to merchant According Jocelyn, every
ship was required to furnish a good-sized cask of wine, or honey, a hook of iron, or a measure of salt ; from every tavern a vessel of mead or of ale, and from every shop a gift
of shoes, or gloves, or knives, or combs, with
referred to some of the foregoing legends.
with a history and description.
See vol. i. ,
I to
pp.
photograph of Frederick II. Mares, drawn
on the wood, by William F. \Yakeman, and
engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
"' A very complete account of it will be
in William Monck Mason's "
found, History
5.
'»° The accompanying engraving is from a
and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathe-
dral Church of St. Patrick," Dublin, 1819,
Roy. 4to, with interior and exterior illustra- See tions, taken before the late restorations.
"
Primordia," cap. xvii. et seq.
Harris'
"
*^ In Walter Harris' posthumous work,
"The History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin, from the earliest accounts," we find an engraving of the north prospect of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Dublin, as it stood in 1766, with a suc- ceeding historical sketch of this building. See Appendix, sect, i. , pp. 371 to 376. An engraving, by T. Ranson, presenting a south prospect, and from a drawing by George Petrie, with a much fuller account, will be
"
Historical Guide to Ancient and Modern Dublin," pp. 107 to 128. The late restorations have effaced many of those architectural features
presented .
43 It is certain, that in the time of Jocelyn,
chapel
Ware, vol. i. ,
p. 20. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan thinks those stories were fabricated at Armagh, and that Jocelyn may have been induced to insert them, in his Life of St. Patrick, as a compli- ment to his patron, the Archbishop Thomas, or that some other hand may have foisted them into his Manuscript.
^7 In the Book of Lecan, belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, there is an Irish poem, on the Benediction bestowed on Dublin, by St. Patrick, fol. 191, a. b. , line 40. In another Manuscript, belonging to the same collection, there is another poem, on St. Patrick's Visit to Dublin. This Manuscript is classified 23. E. 26. See p. 233-
*" As Jocelyn remarks, this plainly was proved, when the Dublin people, becoming proud and regardless of the blessing of the saint, neglected to pay their appointed tribute to Armagh.
the earliest accounts to the present time ;
containing its Annals, Antiquities, Eccle- siastical History, and Charters ; its present
extent, public buildings, schools, institu- tions, &c. , to which are added, Biographical
found in Rev. G. N. Wright's
the Archbishop's palace stood due west of the ancient Christ's Church Cathedral, and on the site of the present Protestant Synod Hall. There St. Laurence O'Toole lived, and his domestic
« A " of the of Dublin, from History City
of St. Michael, the Archangel, was the original of the subse- quent St. Michael's parochial church, which, with its surrounding graveyard and large piles of human remains, we have seen, in
our time, completely removed.
of a similar kind.
many gifts
4^ Ussher, at A. D. 448, and Harris, have
Archbishops of Armagh,"
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 683
doctrine. This he effected, with greater faciHty, by reason of a memorable event, that happened, while he was there preaching the Gospel.
At this time, the River Liffey, while the tide rushed up its current, afforded nothing but salt ^Yater, to the few people, then living in Dublin. When the tide happened to be out, then only, it is intimated, the waterw as sweet and drinkable. But, in that village, an honest matron, in whose house the saint lodged, complained to him, regarding this want of fresh water. The blessed bishop, taking pity on her, as also on the whole multitude, so lately regenerated, and that he might excite their thirst after the fountains of life, deemed it expedient, to manifest the Divine virtue and power. Next day, in the presence of many, he went to a commodious place. There, striking the earth with the end of the Staff of Jesus, and praying, he produced a fine well, which sparkled clearly from its source, full of sweet and pleasant water. s° It also served, in curing many diseases. This spring, in after times,
was called St. Patrick's Well. 5^ —It has been thought probable, that an old
"
church of St. Patrick, in insul
to the time. This Dublin, on the River Poddle s^ reached back Apostle's
public
History of the City of
cii," cap. Ixix. , p. 90.
5' Tradition still points to a remarkable 26,
spring of water, now covered over by St.
Patrick's Cathedral, in Dublin, as being identical with this miraculous well. Primate Ussher determines its site, to have been in the North Close, not far from the steeple,
—cedes inclusum "interjprivatas nuperrime
"
obstmctum. " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
—a," so called from its insular situation, in
was a parochial church, which had existence, in the twelfth century. 53 Taking his leave of Dublin, St. Patrick went to a town, called Cnoc,54 where he sent for one named Murinus, a man of Belial. He would not, in anywise, present himself before the saint, whose persuasive eloquence and holy influence, he deemed able to conquer the hardest heart. This man caused answer to be made, that the saint should suffer him to sleep, in his place of retirement. Knowing by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that he " Let him sleep, let him sleep, andbeforethegeneraldayofjudgment,lethimnotawakenorarise. " After this, the saint hastened on his journey. The wicked wretch died, and it
proved a double death, both spiritually and corporally. ss
was a child of
perdition,
then said Patrick
:
Notices of Eminent Men, and copious Ap- pendices of its Population, Revenue, Com-
merce and Literature," has been publislied in London, A. D. 1818, in two large 4to volumes. If is illustrated, with numerous Plates, Plans and Maps. The most modern
"
private buildings, streets, and matters of general interest. In reference to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, or Christ Church, the enquirer should consult vol. i. , chap, iii. , pp. 98 to
132.
5° See Jocelyn's or " Sexta Vita S. Patri-
cloister of the Archdeacon ot Glendalough
and opposite to the north transcept. There was another St. Patrick's well, situated
south of Nassau-street, in Dublin ; and, be- hind a house. No. 15, in that street, formerly called St. Patrick's Well Lane, was a spring, dried up about the year 1729, and supposed to have been the original well. See Rev.
"
John Francis Shearman's Loca Patri-
ciana," No. vii. , p. 137.
5^ The course of this stream, near rising
Drimnagh, is now under cover along the
Coombe, and to its junction with the Liffey. 53 It may have been a monastic church, at an earlier period, as Abbots and Bishops of Dublin are mentioned, before the Danish settlement. See John D'Alton's "Memoirs of the Archbishops of Dublin," pp. 16 to
5* It was anciently said to have been called
Cnuca, where a battle was fought, during the
bardic period, A. M. 3579, by Conmael, son of Emir. In a. d. 220, it is said, Cumhal, the father of Fin Mac Cumhal, was slain here by GoUMacMorna. Hereisa
pagan
and researchful
Dublin," by J. T. Gilbert, in three 8vo volumes, appeared from 1854 to 1859 ; and, this history gives most minutely the account of various and
tumulus and an ancient castle. This place is known, at present, as Castleknock, near the Phoenix Park, Dublin. It is evident, that Jocelyn has confounded the story, related in the the well of St. Patrick. Another authority text, with one told about St. Patrick, at states, that it was in the outer court of the Naas. Or, perhaps, by Cnoc, which means
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 449. In a document of 1509, the house of the Preben- dary of Plowth is described as situated, near
et
684 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
PassingthroughMeath,aswearetold,St. PatrickcameintoLeinster. Inall
places,hepreachedtheGospel,andtheKingdomofHeaven; and,insuitable places, or when convenience urged, he ordained bishops. It would be utterly impossible, to set down the stupendous miracles, which, as tradition has it, he wrought in the course of those journeys. Like another St. Peter, theveryshadowofhisbodyproducedmiraculouscures. Manyhereceivedto
baptism, knowing that their adversary would labour to entangle them in his snares,andheendeavouredtoprocureforthemconfirmationinfaith. Fearing their relapse into infidelity, the Apostle was anxious to gratify their instant and pious wishes. Popular traditions, as well as documentary accounts, seem to indicate, that St. Patrick took a course, nearly due south from Tara towards Naas, which was then the court of the northern Leinster kings. This is evidently the truth, as appears from the whole tenor of his history. s^
A suggestion has been ofifered,^? that Donnaghmore,^^ on the borders of ! Meath and Dublin, may have had some connexion, with this his southern journey. Again, not far from Straffan,59 and about three miles west from Celbridge,^° in the county of Kildare, there is a very curious stone-roofed cell, but of dubious antiquity. This is now called St. Patrick's house. On the exterior, it is about 24 feet long, by 14 feet in width. The entrance door is on the south side, near the western gable ; and, on this same side appears a small, narrow, mullioned window. This little church is built, almost entirely with flag-stones ; and, it seems, nevertheless, to be very ancient. There are remains of a belfry, over the western gable ; and, on the east end, the traces of a window appear, but the wall beneath has crumbled away, and the altar probably was under the eastern gable. The size and style of building resembles very much that old cell, called St. Kevin's Kitchen, at Glenda- lough. Near the old building, at the foot of an elevated ridge, called Ard- rass,^^ and on the roadside, is shown St. Patrick's well. ^^ In a grassy depression of the ground, but near the summit of the elevated mound mentioned, the country-people point out St. Patrick's bed, encircled with bushes, where it is said the holy man slept, without any shelter, for one night. From this spot, a fine view of the surrounding country is obtained. In the open pasture field, beneath, may be seen the old stone-roofed cell. ^3
We find it stated, that previous to the arrival of St. Patrick in Leinster,
Christianity had made some progress there, owing to the labours of Palla- dius,'^'* Isserninus^5 and other missionaries. These are supposed to have
a peculiar shape of a hill, or mound, Jocelyn the parish of Killadoon, barony of North may have understood that Cnoc, near Naas, Salt, and county of Kildare. See ibid. ,
on which the kings of Leinster are tradi- lionally said to have built a royal residence. 55 See "Sexta Vita S. Patricii," cap.
Ixix. , Ixx. , Ixxi. , Ixxii. , pp. 90, 91.
5^ See John O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-
Sheets lo, ii, 14.
^^
Pilgrims yet frequent it, and hang up many votive offerings of rags, on an old thorn-tree, overhanging the well.
*3 The stone roof was nearly perfect, when
visited by the writer, March, 1870; and, but for the Vandalism of persons, who
wantonly opened a hole through its centre, it might have long resisted the inroads of time. This was intended to afford egress for smoke, as the old church was used, for tlie purpose of kindling fires, in the interior ;
Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (h), p. 227. 57 By Rev. John Francis Shearman, in
" Loca Patriciana," No. vii. , pp. 137, 138. 5^ A parish, in the barony of Ratoath,
county of Meath.
59 This is a parish, and townland, in the
barony of North Salt, shown on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the but, at present, it is open on two sides, and,
County Kildare," Sheets 10, 14.
^ This is a town and townland, in the
parishes of Kildrought and Donaghcumper,
it affords shelter for cattle, so that its iii- terior is always left in a very filthy state,
'•* St. Prosper of Aquitaine records in his
" this man reached Chronicle," that holy
Ireland,in430,or431.
^^ He is said to have reached Leinster, in
m the baronies of North and Soutii
Salt,
countyofKildare. Seeibid. . Sheetli.
*»
This townland, Upper and Lower, is in
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 685
leavened the population, while it was still the privilege of our great Apostle, to
attack pagan superstition, in its high places. ^^ Again, it has been asserted, that St. Patrick's visitation to the more southern province did not take place, until he had previously held an interview with King Laoghaire Mac Neill, at theFeis,orConvention,ofTara. ^7 Totheyear438,^^hasbeenassignedthe saint's writing and purification of the Seanchus, or History, and of the Feine- chus, or Laws, of ancient Erinn f'i while, the writings and ancient books were collected and brought to one place, at the request of Patrick. The account runs, that three kings, Laoighaire,7° Core? ' and Daire ;72 three saints, Patrick,73 Benen74 and Cairnech ;75 with three antiquaries, Ross,7^ Dubhthach77 and Fearghus ;7^ or, a committee of these nine distinguished persons'9 undertook this work of recension and revision. ^° The Feis or Senate of Tara is said to have invested the persons, thus selected, with authority for thepurpose. ^^ Theirlaboursweredirected,torevisethepaganlawsofIreland, and to make them harmonize with Christianity. ^^ Having this object in view, they drew up a new Code, called the Seanchus-Mor,^3 or Great Antiquity.
438, with Auxilius and Secundinus, to assist
St. Patrick, in his Apostolic labours.
** See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
7^ Thought by some to have been Ros, the son of Trichem,
77 Supposed to have been Dubhtacli Mac " Loca Patriciana," No. vii. , p. ill. No. Ui Lugair, the chief man among the Irish
viii. , pp. 139, 140.
^^ In 1792, Lieutenant Daniel Grose
sketched the church and curious ruins, on
the Hill of Tara. Of these, he gives a N. W.
bards.
